CN108068820B

CN108068820B - Method and apparatus for identifying rule violation behaviors

Info

Publication number: CN108068820B
Application number: CN201711137893.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: H·弗赖恩施泰因; F·厄斯特勒; J·门尼希
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2016-11-16
Filing date: 2017-11-16
Publication date: 2023-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-16
Also published as: CN108068820A; DE102016222505A1; US10913450B2; US20180134282A1

Abstract

A method for identifying a violation of a rule and/or an atypical vehicle state of a vehicle (302) is described. The method has the following steps: receiving environmental data detected by means of an environmental sensing mechanism; determining a vehicle behavior and/or a vehicle state of the vehicle (302) from the environmental data; identifying a violated rule-of-regulation behavior and/or an atypical vehicle state of the vehicle (302) based on the ascertained vehicle behavior and/or vehicle state.

Description

Method and apparatus for identifying violations of rules

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method and a device for identifying a violation of a rule.

Background

DE 10 2004 014 540 A1 describes a vehicle control device for a vehicle, which has a situation determination unit which determines the situation in which the vehicle is located on the basis of information. Further, the vehicle control apparatus includes a risk determination unit that determines a degree of risk based on a condition determined previously. Predetermined units in the vehicle are controlled by means of the vehicle controller in such a way that the risk level is reduced.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention describes a method for identifying a violation of a rule and/or an atypical vehicle state of a vehicle. The method has the following steps: receiving environmental data detected by means of an environmental sensing mechanism; obtaining the vehicle behavior and/or the vehicle state of the vehicle according to the environment data; identifying a violated rule-of-regulation behavior and/or an atypical vehicle state of the vehicle based on the ascertained vehicle behavior and/or vehicle state.

Atypical vehicle states can be understood, for example, as: the vehicle burns, the vehicle's tires have little air and/or are deflated, the vehicle smokes or travels along a serpentine route (Schlangenlinien), and/or repeatedly brakes and/or accelerates without an identifiable cause for this.

The method may be performed, for example, in a vehicle and/or on a server. If the method is implemented in a vehicle, an interface can be considered for this purpose, via which information about the recognized vehicle states which are violating the regulations and/or are atypical can be transmitted to the safety functions and/or driving functions of the vehicle.

If the method is carried out on an external server, for example, the cloud, the information can be received by the vehicle via a corresponding receiving device, for example, via radio or the internet, and the information about the violation and/or atypical vehicle state of the identified vehicle can be transferred to the safety function and/or driving function of the vehicle via a suitable interface.

After the violation of the rule and/or the atypical vehicle state of the vehicle has been identified, a signal representing the violation of the rule and/or the atypical vehicle state may thus be generated. The method will therefore involve a method for generating a signal representative of a violated rule action and/or an atypical vehicle condition of a vehicle, the signal being generated in dependence on the identification of the violated rule action and/or the atypical vehicle condition.

Furthermore, the method may comprise the step of providing a signal. For example, an internal interface for a transmitting unit that transmits signals to the cloud or to the vehicle and/or for signals that provide another function, for example, a driving function and/or a safety function of the vehicle. How the further processing of the signal looks may depend, for example, on where the method is implemented. It is also possible to control a warning device which prompts the vehicle occupant or another traffic participant to: a violation of a rule and/or an atypical vehicle condition of another vehicle has been identified.

The environmental data detected by the environment sensor device relate, for example, to data and/or images of a camera, of a lidar sensor, of an ultrasonic sensor or of a radar sensor. Additional sensors may also be used to generate environmental data. The environmental data can be understood here as data in the surroundings of the vehicle. Depending on the sensor mechanism used, the environment may be larger or smaller, for example, may have a radius of 50m to 1 km. Here, the environmental sensor mechanism does not necessarily have to be mounted on the vehicle. For example, data of a drone that detects the surroundings of the vehicle by means of suitable sensors may also be involved. It is also possible to use data from sensors, for example cameras for traffic monitoring, which are fastened to the infrastructure device, if the sensors have a suitable interface for data transmission.

For example, a generic object recognition algorithm can be used to determine the vehicle behavior and/or the vehicle state from the environmental data. In the identification, the vehicle or the vehicle behavior should be taken into account, in particular, with regard to its surroundings. For example, one can find: whether the vehicle crosses a lane line, on which lane the vehicle is located, how quickly the vehicle approaches a certain traffic sign, e.g. a signpost or traffic light, how the vehicle behaves in certain traffic conditions, e.g. at an intersection.

In addition, when the vehicle state of the vehicle is obtained, detailed analysis of the vehicle can be performed. By means of the object recognition algorithm, it is possible, for example, to recognize the state of individual components of the vehicle, for example, tires, headlights, for example, whether they are switched on or off.

The identification of the violated and/or atypical vehicle state can then be effected, for example, by means of a comparison of the ascertained vehicle behavior and/or vehicle state with the desired vehicle behavior and/or vehicle state. The desired value may/may be stored in a memory, for example. Identification of a violation of a rule made may, for example, follow StVO (road traffic law). Furthermore, in order to identify atypical vehicle states, characteristic curves and/or thresholds for different characteristics of the vehicle may be defined. The vehicle state is identified as atypical, for example, when the cumulative change in the lateral position of the vehicle with respect to the lane boundary exceeds a predefined threshold within a predefined period of time. Furthermore, a threshold value for acceleration may be determined over a defined period of time, so that repeated, excessive braking and acceleration may be detected as atypical behaviour.

Furthermore, for example, images of different vehicles from different perspectives can be stored, which images correspond to the "normal state" of the vehicle. The ascertained vehicle state can then be compared with these data in order to identify atypical vehicle states.

A vehicle is understood here to mean all vehicles which can participate in road traffic. For example, the following belong to the vehicle: a car, a truck, a bicycle, a motorcycle, a moped, a scooter, an electric bicycle, a children's bobby, a chaincar, a somatosensory balance car, a tricycle or an air cushion skateboard.

Safety in road traffic can be increased by identifying a violation of a rule and/or an atypical vehicle state by means of the method according to the invention. By forwarding the recognized violations of regulations and/or the recognized atypical vehicle states to further functions, such as, for example, a driving function and/or a safety function for highly automated driving, by means of which, for example, the control of passenger protection devices, such as belt tensioners, airbags or pedestrian airbags, can be implemented, accidents can be avoided and the probability of injury of vehicle occupants and further traffic participants, such as pedestrians, can be reduced.

Furthermore, a method for adapting a driving function and/or a safety function of a vehicle based on an identified violation of a rule and/or an identified atypical vehicle state of at least one further vehicle is claimed. The method has the following steps:

receiving a signal representing the identified violating rules and/or the identified atypical vehicle states of the further vehicle and/or identifying the violating rules and/or the atypical vehicle states of the further vehicle. In particular, the identification of the violated rule behavior and/or the atypical vehicle state of the vehicle can be carried out according to the above-described method for identifying a violated rule behavior and/or an atypical vehicle state of a vehicle;

the driving function and/or the safety function of the vehicle are adapted according to the received signals and/or the identified violations of rules and/or the identified atypical vehicle state.

The driving function may relate, for example, to a partially automated or highly automated driving function of the vehicle, which may, for example, influence the lateral dynamics and/or the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle. The driving function may also relate to a function of taking over all tasks required for the vehicle to travel.

The safety function of the vehicle may relate, for example, to a protection function of the overall safety. This can be designed, for example, for controlling passenger protection devices, such as belt tensioners or airbags. Additionally or alternatively, the safety function may also control means for transmitting information to the driver and/or the vehicle occupant, for example for generating an optical, acoustic or haptic signal.

The method provides the advantage of improving safety in road traffic.

In a further embodiment of the method, at least a part of the driving task of the vehicle is taken over by means of the driving function. In the step of adapting the driving function, the driving task taken over by the driving function is returned to the driver.

This embodiment provides the following advantages: the safety of the traffic participants is increased in the presence of automatically operated vehicles. In the case of recognition of a rule violation and/or an atypical vehicle state, traffic situations which are difficult to interpret or dangerous may be present, which requires special attention. By returning the driving function after a corresponding recognition, it is ensured that the probability of accidents and/or traffic obstacles by the automatically operating vehicle is reduced in traffic situations that are difficult to interpret or may be dangerous.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the vehicle has at least one passenger protection device, which is controlled by the safety function. And matching the control of the personal protection device when the safety functions are matched.

The passenger protection device can be, for example, a restraint device in a vehicle or a protection device for reducing injuries to traffic participants in general. The following protective devices also belong to the personal protective apparatus: the protection device does not protect a vehicle occupant, but for example protects a pedestrian or an occupant of another vehicle, for example a pedestrian airbag or an active crash structure. Since the positioning of the occupant is also crucial in the event of a crash, all controllable positioning devices can also function as passenger protection devices. For example, a control of the seat may be implemented which places the vehicle occupant in an optimal position before an accident occurs. For this purpose, the forward displacement (vorverlagegerung) and/or the position of the vehicle occupant can be determined in additional steps. The seat can then be rotated or changed in its position, for example, the backrest can be erected or tilted further, or the headrest can be adapted.

Furthermore, provision of the personal protection device can be prepared in the case of a matching of the safety function, or a time-matched, in particular advanced, triggering of the personal protection device can be carried out. For this purpose, the triggering threshold can be lowered, for example, so that the triggering of the passenger protection means is already carried out in the event of a light collision of the vehicle. Likewise, the type of control of the personal protection arrangement can be changed, for example, in that the personal protection arrangement is triggered earlier, later, harder or softer. In the case of an airbag, this can also be achieved by igniting a plurality of igniters or by adapting the gas inflow into the airbag by means of suitable valves. In addition, it is also possible to determine which passenger protection devices are activated when there is a match, for example which airbags are activated from which side after what time.

This embodiment of the method provides the following advantages: an early and accident-situation-matched triggering of the passenger restraint device can be achieved, which increases the safety of the traffic participants.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the triggering threshold for triggering the passenger protection means is adapted when the control of the passenger protection means is adapted. In particular to lower the trigger threshold.

This embodiment of the method likewise offers the advantage of increasing the safety of the vehicle occupants and also of the further traffic participants.

In vehicles, at least one signal of an acceleration sensor or of a pressure sensor is often evaluated. In this case, the at least one signal is preprocessed differently and the result is then compared with a predefined threshold value. In order to avoid false triggering, in the usual case, a certain threshold value is waited for to be exceeded until the triggering of the activatable personal protection device takes place. In the case of recognition of a violation of a rule and/or an atypical vehicle state of the vehicle, the threshold value can be adapted, for example lowered, so that an early triggering of the personal protection device is achieved. Since an accident has been anticipated, there is a second confidence check signal that allows a reduction of the trigger threshold without increasing the probability of false triggers. Thereby, a more sensitive security system is provided while maintaining a relatively robust false trigger.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the adaptation of the driving function is carried out in such a way that a safe distance is maintained or established with respect to the further vehicle for which a violation of a regulation law and/or an atypical vehicle state has been identified.

This embodiment provides the following advantages: the probability of an accident based on another vehicle is reduced.

The safety distance can be maintained in various ways. For example, it is possible to adjust the distance directly with respect to the other vehicle. Furthermore, a safe distance to another vehicle, for example between the vehicle and another vehicle, can also be established. This ensures that: if dangerous situations arise, such as a strong deceleration or a collision of the other vehicle with another vehicle or with a traffic participant affected by the behavior or state of the other vehicle, a subsequent collision is avoided. Thus, the spacing calculation may also involve additional vehicles that do not violate the rule violation or have atypical vehicle states.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the vehicle has a position determination unit and an internal memory and/or a communication unit. In the event that a violation of a rule and/or an atypical vehicle state of at least one further vehicle is detected, the location of the violation of the rule and/or the location of the occurrence of the atypical vehicle state is detected by means of the location determination unit and then saved in the memory and/or transmitted to an external server by means of the communication unit.

This embodiment provides the following advantages: the safety of the vehicle driver and, if necessary, further vehicles and traffic participants in road traffic is further increased.

This information can be provided to additional functions by marking or detecting the following locations: where the location of the violation of the rule and/or the occurrence of an atypical vehicle state has been determined. If the location is saved in internal memory, the following possibilities exist: special measures are already taken when the position is traversed again, for example, a particularly careful, particularly slow driving operation, or a matching of the driving function and/or the safety function is carried out without renewed detection of a violation of regulations and/or an atypical driving situation. In this way, hazardous entrances or exits or crossroads can be marked.

By transmitting the position to an external server, the information can be evaluated more precisely and provided to further traffic participants if necessary. It is thereby possible to determine the following positions: hazards may generally emanate from the location, thereby improving safety in road traffic as a whole.

In a further embodiment of the method, the adaptation of the driving function and/or safety function is carried out as a function of the number of recognized violations of rules and/or atypical vehicle states.

This embodiment of the method provides the following advantages: a plausibility check of possible hazardous situations is carried out.

In this case, a number of recognized violations of rules and/or atypical vehicle states may occur in the temporally correlated traffic situation of the vehicle. For example, multiple violations of one or more vehicles may be identified in turn. Alternatively, information about the violated rule or the recognized atypical driving state can also be received by another vehicle or by the server, if necessary compared with data detected by the vehicle itself. The recognized violations and/or atypical vehicle states can be summed and matched to the number to implement a matching of the safety function and/or the driving function.

Furthermore, it is possible for the analysis to process time-independent recognized violations of rules or atypical vehicle states. If the locations where the identification occurs are saved, these locations can therefore be compared with further locations where the identification also occurs. In this way, a location with an increased probability of the occurrence of a vehicle state which is violative of rules and/or atypical can be determined. If these positions are transferred to the vehicle, a corresponding adaptation of the safety function and/or the driving function can be carried out, thereby further increasing the traffic safety. For example, multiple behaviors that violate a traffic rule may be sequentially accumulated into a more prominent feature. In this way, the hazardous situation can be made highly reliable.

In another embodiment of the method, the vehicle has a communication interface. By means of the communication interface, information about the identified vehicle state of the at least one further vehicle which violates the regulation action and/or is atypical is transmitted to the at least one further traffic participant and/or an external server.

This embodiment provides the following advantages: information about potential hazards of road traffic can be communicated to additional traffic participants, thereby further improving the safety of all traffic participants.

In this case, it is possible to implement either a transmission to an external server, for example to the cloud, or a transmission directly to a further traffic participant, in particular to a further vehicle. For this purpose, any transmission method may be used, for example, transmission via radio or the internet may be used. It is also possible to submit information to the pedestrian, for example to a smartphone of the pedestrian or to a corresponding device designed to receive such a signal.

Traffic chips for pedestrians or children, which vibrate strongly when receiving such signals, for example, may be considered. In this way, for example, pedestrians can be prompted about vehicles which are traveling in rapid proximity or which violate further traffic regulations. In addition, the information can also be transmitted to intelligent traffic signs, which can forward the information to further traffic participants either by radio or, if necessary, optically. The external server can be located here either at the traffic sign or at a central unit which controls the traffic sign.

Furthermore, a computer program is claimed, which is provided for carrying out one of the above-described methods.

Furthermore, a machine-readable storage medium is claimed, on which a computer program is stored, which computer program causes a computing unit to carry out the method according to the above-described embodiments when the computer program is executed on the computing unit.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is represented by a computing unit, in particular a controller for an electric machine, which is also claimed and which is provided for carrying out the method according to the above-described embodiment by means of a computer program provided on the computing unit, in particular on a storage medium of the computing unit, and/or by means of a corresponding integrated circuit. A synergy (synergy) results therefrom, since the computing unit, in particular the controller, is not only used to control, for example, the electric machine of the vehicle and/or the safety device/passenger protection system of the vehicle, but is also provided to carry out the method according to the invention.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a schematic method diagram;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic method diagram;

FIG. 3 illustrates a traffic condition;

fig. 4 shows another traffic situation.

Detailed Description

One possible embodiment of a method for detecting a violation of a rule and/or an atypical vehicle state of a vehicle is depicted in fig. 1. The method starts with step 101.

In step 102, environmental data detected by an environmental sensing mechanism is received. In this exemplary embodiment, the image data of a camera is referred to, wherein the camera is installed in the vehicle.

In step 103, the vehicle behavior and/or the vehicle state is determined from the environmental data. To this end, the vehicle is identified from the environmental data and the vehicle behavior or the vehicle state of the vehicle is detected.

In step 105, the identification of the violated rule behavior and/or the atypical vehicle state is carried out on the basis of the ascertained vehicle behavior and/or vehicle state. For this purpose, the evaluation process evaluates the vehicle behavior determined in step 103 or the determined vehicle state.

The method ends with step 108.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises optional step 104. In this step, a comparison of the ascertained vehicle behavior and/or vehicle state with comparison data is carried out, wherein the comparison data represent the vehicle behavior or the expected vehicle state. In this embodiment, the vehicle behavior is compared to the rules determined in StVO. In this embodiment, the image data of the vehicle that can normally operate in the "normal state" from different viewpoints is used as the comparison data of the vehicle state. The comparison data can be received by the server, but can alternatively or additionally also be stored locally. In this embodiment, the data resides on internal memory, but is periodically updated through a connection to the cloud.

In step 105, an evaluation of the comparison is carried out accordingly, by means of which the violation of the regulation being carried out and/or an atypical vehicle state is recognized.

In another embodiment of the method, after the identification of the violations of the rules and/or the atypical vehicle states, a signal representing the identified violations of the rules and/or the identified atypical vehicle states is generated in an optional step 106.

In a step 107, which is also optional, the signal is provided to a further function. In this embodiment, the signal is provided to a safety function which prompts the driver about the recognized violation and/or atypical vehicle state by means of the control of the device for generating the optical, acoustic and haptic signals. The method also ends with step 108.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic flow of a method for adapting a driving function and/or a safety function of a vehicle 301. The matching of the driving function and the safety function respectively implemented in the vehicle 301 is performed in the following embodiment. However, it is generally also possible to adapt either the driving function or the safety function. The method starts with step 201.

In step 202, a violation of a rule and/or an identified atypical vehicle state of the further vehicle 302 is identified. In this embodiment, a method for identifying a violation of a rule is implemented in the vehicle 301. To this end, the vehicle 301 has an environment sensing mechanism including a camera. The environmental data are detected by means of a camera and received by a computing unit. In the computing unit, the environmental data are evaluated, wherein further vehicles 302 are detected. Furthermore, the vehicle behaviour of the further vehicle 302 is analyzed. The current location and traffic conditions where the further vehicle 302 is located are included into the analysis. The existing traffic regulations are determined at the location of the further vehicle 302, wherein the determination is effected on the one hand by identifying traffic signs and on the other hand by querying data stored on an internal memory. Then, by comparing the prevailing traffic rules with the ascertained vehicle behavior, it is recognized that: whether there is a violation of a rule behavior.

In this embodiment, the speed overrun of the further vehicle 302 at the intersection 303 is determined by means of the above-described method for identifying a violation of a rule. This situation is shown in fig. 3.

In step 203, a matching of the driving function and the safety function of the vehicle 301 is performed according to the identified violating rules. Since the further vehicle 302 approaches the intersection 303 at a higher speed, which should also be driven over by the vehicle 301, the speed of the vehicle 301 is reduced by means of the adaptation of the driving function of the vehicle 301. The driving function implemented in vehicle 301 can automatically take over both the transverse guidance of vehicle 301 and the longitudinal guidance of vehicle 301.

Although the vehicle 301 has the right to go ahead with respect to the other vehicle 302, the parking in front of the intersection of the vehicle 301 is eventually achieved by the matching of the driving functions, so as to prevent an accident from occurring with the other vehicle 302 that disregards the traffic regulations, which other vehicle 302 likewise disregards the right to go ahead of the vehicle 301 in this embodiment.

In addition to the adaptation of the driving function of the vehicle 301, the adaptation of the safety function of the vehicle 301 is carried out at the same time. The safety function is designed to control a plurality of passenger protection devices present in the vehicle 301. The safety function can be used here for controlling devices for warning the vehicle occupant, such as warning lights, speakers and vibration devices in the seat of the vehicle occupant, on the one hand, and for controlling the airbag, on the other hand. Further, the change of the seat position of the vehicle occupant may be performed so as to place the vehicle occupant in an optimum position.

In this embodiment, a warning is output to the vehicle occupant after the rule violation is identified, wherein an acoustic signal is generated and the warning signal begins to flash. In addition, a change of the trigger threshold for triggering the passenger protection means is carried out if the safety function designed for controlling the passenger protection means is adapted. For this reason, in this embodiment, the threshold value for triggering the passenger airbag is lowered, so that the passenger airbag is triggered more quickly in the event of an accident.

The method ends with step 207.

In an alternative embodiment, in step 202, the identification of a violation of a rule and/or an atypical vehicle state is not performed, but the following signals are received: the signal represents a violation of a rule being committed and/or represents an identification of an atypical vehicle condition. In this case, the signal is received by an external server, on which data relating to a violation of a rule made at a specific location or relating to an atypical vehicle state are preprocessed. In order to be able to provide such data, the above-described method for identifying a vehicle state of a vehicle which violates a rule and/or is atypical is carried out on the server. For this purpose, the server receives data which have been detected by means of the environment sensor system. In this embodiment, the data comes from a plurality of vehicles that send their environmental data to the server over a data connection. The server performs an evaluation of these data, wherein the vehicle behavior and/or the vehicle state is determined from the environmental data. By comparison with traffic regulations and/or different vehicle states, then a violation of regulations being committed and/or an atypical vehicle state is identified.

In another embodiment, an additional optional step 204 is implemented in which a determination of the position of the further vehicle 302 is made. For this purpose, the vehicle 301 has a position determination unit.

In an equally optional step 205, the sought location of the further vehicle 302, which has made a violation of the rule and/or has an atypical vehicle state, is saved in an internal memory present in the vehicle 301. Here, the type, date, and time of the violation of the rule behavior are saved in addition to the location. These data may later be used to perform automatic matching of the driving functions and/or safety functions of the vehicle 301 when the vehicle 301 approaches the location. The matching may be made independently of whether a violation of a rule or an atypical vehicle condition has been re-identified at the location. If a rule-violating or atypical vehicle state is identified at a location a plurality of times, the driving function and the safety function are matched to the number of rule-violating and/or atypical vehicle states identified. In this embodiment, the speed of the vehicle is further reduced and the threshold for triggering the restriction device is further reduced in the safety function.

In another embodiment, the method has an optional step 206 in addition to optional step 204. In this step, the data saved in the internal memory in step 205 in the previously described embodiment is transmitted to the server and the other vehicle. For this purpose, the vehicle 301 has a communication device, by means of which a connection to a further vehicle or to a server can be made. In this way, data can be provided to a plurality of traffic participants, so that the traffic participants can be prompted about a potentially dangerous situation, or a matching of the driving function and/or the safety function of the further vehicle can be implemented.

In another embodiment, the data detected in step 204 is not only saved in the vehicle interior in step 205, but also transmitted to the server and another vehicle in step 206.

In another embodiment, locations of additional vehicles that violate a rule and/or have atypical vehicle states are not detected. However, information about the recognized violation of the rule and/or the atypical vehicle state of the further vehicle is transmitted to the traffic participants in the surroundings of the vehicle. This information may be, for example, the following warning information: the warning message indicates a potentially dangerous situation to the further traffic participant.

Another hazardous situation is shown in fig. 4. Here, the vehicle 401 is overtaken by another vehicle 401 in front of a curve 403 which is not visible on the basis of an obstacle 404. By means of the method for identifying a rule violation, which is executed on the vehicle 401, a rule violation of the further vehicle 402 is identified. The safety functions implemented in vehicle 401 are therefore adapted in that the threshold value for triggering the passenger airbag is lowered.

Since the vehicle 401 is operated highly automatically by means of the driving function at the time of the overtaking process of the further vehicle 402, wherein both the transverse guidance and the longitudinal guidance of the driving function are taken over, an adaptation of the driving function is additionally carried out. Since the following can be assumed: further violations or aggressive and dangerous driving patterns can also be expected from vehicle 402, so that the longitudinal guidance of vehicle 401 is adapted in such a way that a safe distance is maintained with respect to vehicle 402 which is now driving in front. The safety distance is selected to be so large that a comfortable deceleration of vehicle 401 can be achieved in the event of a sudden stop of vehicle 402. Because the curve 403 is not visible, the following vehicles may be present behind the curve: another vehicle 402 may be stuck to the vehicle without being braked.

In another embodiment, the vehicle is operated on the highway halfway and automatically by means of the driving function. By means of a communication device integrated in the vehicle, a signal is received in the vehicle which represents the recognized, uncharacterized vehicle state of the further vehicle. The signal contains the following information: there is another vehicle with a deflated tire that started smoking 1000m from the current position of the vehicle. Since increased alertness is required, the driving function is adapted in such a way that the driving task of controlling the lateral guidance and the longitudinal guidance of the vehicle is given back to the vehicle occupants. To this end, the driver is acoustically and visually prompted about the condition and the submission. Since the driver's seat is rotated backward in this embodiment, the take-over is delayed, so that the reduction in speed is also performed before the take-over. After the driver is automatically put in the correct position and is ready to take over the vehicle, the driving task is again handed over to the driver.

Depending on the driving situation, other adaptations of the driving function can also be implemented. For example, a reduction in the speed of the vehicle, a lateral approach (hernafahren), a parking or emergency braking can be used.

Claims

1. A method for matching at least one of a driving function of a host vehicle and a safety function of the host vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring environmental data using an environmental sensor system of the host vehicle, the acquiring step comprising using: (ii) a camera of the host vehicle, or (ii) a lidar sensor of the host vehicle, or (iii) an ultrasonic sensor of the host vehicle, or (iv) a radar system of the host vehicle;

determining, by the host vehicle, an operation of a second vehicle or a state of the second vehicle based on the acquired environmental data, wherein the second vehicle is separate from the host vehicle;

detecting, by the host vehicle and based on the determined operation of the second vehicle or the determined state of the second vehicle, an atypical state of the second vehicle and a violation behavior of the second vehicle;

automatically matching, by the host vehicle, at least one of a driving function of the host vehicle and a safety function of the host vehicle according to the detected atypical vehicle state of the second vehicle;

wherein the step of matching further comprises lowering a trigger threshold in dependence on the detected violation of a rule by the second vehicle, wherein the safety function deploys a personal protection device of the host vehicle when the trigger threshold is exceeded;

wherein the atypical vehicle state of the second vehicle comprises at least one of: (ii) the second vehicle burns, (ii) the second vehicle's tires have little air and/or are deflated, (iii) the second vehicle smokes, (iv) the second vehicle travels along a serpentine path, (v) the cumulative change in the second vehicle's lateral position with respect to the roadway boundary exceeds a predefined first threshold over a first predefined period of time, (vi) the second vehicle repeatedly brakes or repeatedly accelerates beyond a predefined second threshold over a predefined second period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

performing a driving task in an automatic manner by the driving function, the driving task including controlling lateral guidance of the host vehicle and linear guidance of the host vehicle by the driving function;

wherein the step of matching comprises returning the driving task to the driver of the host vehicle in dependence of the detected violation of the rule behavior of the second vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

performing a driving task in an automatic manner by the driving function, the driving task including controlling lateral guidance of the vehicle and longitudinal guidance of the vehicle by the driving function;

wherein the step of matching comprises selecting a safe distance to the second vehicle when performing the driving task and using the selected safe distance by the driving function.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting, using a position determination unit of the host vehicle, a position of the second vehicle in violation of the rule behavior after detecting the violation of the rule behavior of the second vehicle; and

(i) Store the detected location in an internal memory of the host vehicle, and/or (ii) transmit the detected location to an external cloud server using a communication unit of the host vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of matching is performed in accordance with the detected plurality of violations of the second vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting, by the host vehicle, information relating to the detected violation of the rule behavior by the second vehicle to an external cloud server.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

performing a driving task in an automated manner by the driving function, the driving task including controlling lateral guidance of the host vehicle and longitudinal guidance of the host vehicle by the driving function;

wherein the step of matching comprises returning the driving task to the driver of the host vehicle in dependence of the detected atypical vehicle state of the second vehicle.

8. A machine-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, the computer program being arranged to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 when the computer program is executed on a computer.

9. A computing unit arranged for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 by means of a corresponding integrated circuit and/or by means of a computer program stored on a storage medium.

10. The computing unit of claim 9, wherein the computing unit is a regulator for a motor.